Thai Airways will reveal its next-generation business class in May as the airline marks both its 65th anniversary and an exit from five years of bankruptcy-protected restructuring.
The airline says the new suites with “privacy doors” and 24” screens will be fitted across 44 of its long-range Boeing jets, including 30 factory-fresh 787 Dreamliners due from 2027– leading with the 787-10 and flowing through “over a ten-year timeframe” – and 14 current 777-300ERs.
Other mod cons are likely to include Bluetooth audio streaming plus wireless device charging alongside AC and USB-C sockets.
However, the Star Alliance member is stepping back from first class, saying those aircraft “will not include a dedicated first class cabin.”
In its place will be a row of ‘business plus’ suites at the front of the cabin, providing additional space and features to “offer an experience close to first class.”
It’s speculated that Thai could be the mysterious launch customer for the Thompson Aero Seating’s Vantage Nova business class, which includes an optional ‘business plus’ row 1 treatment.
“Once the upgrades are completed, we will have a consistent product across 44 wide-body aircraft,” promises Thai Airways CEO Chai Eamsiri, adding that premium economy recliners would also become a standard part of the Thai offering on those jets.
As a result, Thai will retain the exclusive first class cabin only on three of its Boeing 777s.
And things are set to get tighter down the back of the 777s, with Eamsiri confirming that economy will move from rows of nine-abreast 3-3-3 to a more common 3-3-4 layout during the refit.
“We conducted extensive research and found that over 90% of airlines now use a 3-4-3 configuration in economy class,” Eamsiri told Airways magazine.
“Thanks to new seating technology, we can offer better space efficiency while maintaining passenger comfort. The seat pitch will remain consistent with our current standards.”
Thai’s new A321neo business class beds
Thai’s single-aisle Airbus A321neo jets, due for delivery from November 2025, will also sport business class seats which convert to fully lie-flat beds.
Eamsiri indicated the airline has chosen the familiar Vantage platform from Thompson Aero Seating, which is also flown on Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 737 MAX jets, and boasts Vantage’s signature ‘throne’ seat for solo flyers seeking more privacy and personal space.
Add free WiFi and a new in-flight entertainment system, and the experience will help Thai level up to its competitors.
“In the past, we didn’t have a business class to capture regional markets,” Eamsiri said.
“Now, it will be a single product from the original to the destination,” he added, with passengers able to enjoy flatbed comfort as they transfer between short- and long-range flights.
“That will give the customer more satisfaction with our new product and increase our revenue by capturing those markets.”
Source: https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/thai-airways-new-777-787-business-class
